Combined curtain stretcher and clothes rack



Y 1,606,401 E. M. CRAFT CQMBINED CURTAIN STRETCHER AND CLOTHES RACK Nov. 9 1926.

Filed Dec. 21, 1925 ATTORNEYS Nov. 3),

EDITH M. CRAFT, OF CLEVELAND, OHO.

COMBNED CURTAIN STRETCHER AND CLGTEE'S RACK.

Application filed December 21, 1925.

My invention is a combined curtain stretcher and clothes rack, and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

in object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character described which aliordsfacilities for supporting a plurality of curtains of any one of a plurality of different sizes without the use of the usual fas- @o 'tening pins for engaging with the curtain and so that the entire areas of both faces of each curtain will be unobstructed and eX- posed to the air.

A further object of the invention is the is provision of a device of the character described which affords facilities for supporting garments in the manner of a clothes -`ack or costumer.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character described which can be folded to take up but vrelatively little space and which can be quickly and easily adjusted for use either as a curtain stretcher or a clothes rack or for use as both a curtain stretcher and a clothes rack.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure -1 is a perspective View of the dee vice as it appears in use as a curtain stretcher.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the device used to support articles of wearing apparel. l

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through one of the standards of the device and through a bracket on the standard, showing means for releasably holding the bracket against vertical movement on the standard.

Figure a is a fragmentary view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the upper end portion of one of the standards and a bracket on the upper end of said standard.

ln carrying out the invention, l provide a pair of standards 1 which may be made of wood, metal or any other suitable material and which may be tubular, as shown, or solid, if desired. Tflach standard l has a base 2 which is of suitable size and shape to tirmly support the standard in an upi right position on a floor 3 or other horizontal surface, the base preferably having a Serial No. 76,826.

-flat lower face adapted to rest flatwise on the supporting horizontal surface and the standard preferably extending upwardly from the center of the base.

Each standard lis formed with two vertical rows of spaced transverse openings 4 and 5, respectively, the openings el lying in a vertical plane which entends substantially 'at right angles to the vertical plane in which the openings 5 lie.

in upper bracket 6 and a lower bracket 7 are associated with each standard 1. The

upper bracket 7 comprises a member of bar like form enlarged vertically intermediate its length as indicated at 8,- this vertically enlarged middle portion of the upper bracket being formed with a vertical socket 9 in its lower face for the reception of the eX- treme upper lend portion of the associated standard 1. rlhe middle portion of this upper bracket 6 therefore may be termed a cap. A pair of oppositely extending or aligned lateral supporting arms 10 entend from the cap portion 8 of each upper brack et 6 and have the extreme end portions thereof reducedand turned upwardly and inwardly to produce the hooks indicated at 11. Each supporting arm 10 of the upper bracket 6 is formed with a plurality of spaced transverse openings 12 which pref ,erably are nonfcircular ,in cross sectional configuration as best seen in Figure 4l, Each lower bracket 7 is made of a bar-like member which is enlarged laterally at opposite sides intermediate its length as indicated at 13', this laterally enlarged middle portion of the lower bracket being formed with a vertical bore or opening 14t for the reception of the associated standard 1 so that the lower bracket 7 may slide and rotate on the associated standard. Each lower bracket 7 also includes a pair of oppositely extending or aligned lateral arms 15 similar' to the arms l0, the extreme outer end portion of each of the arms 15 being reduced and turned upwardly and then inwardly to produce a hook, such as shown at 16. Each arm 15 is formed with spaced transverse openings 17 similar to the openings 12 in the arm of the upper bracket 6, the openings 17 being preferably non-circular in cross section and corresponding in number and relative arrangement with the openings 12 in the corresponding arms of the upper bracket G on the same standard. A pin 18 which is adapted to be inserted in any one of the openings 4 or 5 of the associated standard 1 and to protrude from such opening is attached by a chain 19 to an arm 15 ot' the lower bracket 7, there being a pin 1S and a chain 19 for each arm of each lower bracket.

A plurality of pairs ot upper and lower cross rods, such as indicated at 20 and 21, respectively, are provided for each pair of standards 1 and the brackets on said standards. The end portions of each upper cross rod 20 are formed to t in corresponding or aligned openings 12 of cor 1esponding arms 10 oit the upper brackets. The end portions of each cross rod 21 likewise are adapted to tit in corresponding1 openings 17 of correspending arms 15 of the lower brackets. Each upper cross rod 2O is extended through the usual hem 22 at the upper end of a curtain 23 which is to be stretched and dried and the corresponding` lower cross rod 2l is extended through the hein 24 at the lower end of that curtain. rlhe lower brackets 7 then are adjusted onv the standards 1 until the curtain is stretched as desired and these lower brackets then may be secured against accidental movement on the standards 1 by means ot the pins 18, one ot the pins 18 which are associated with each lower bracket 7 being inserted in one ot the openings 4 just above the middle portion of the associated bracket 7 while the. other pin 18 that is associated with that lower bracket being inserted in an opening 11 just below the iniddle portion of the associated bracket 7.

it will be obvious that a plurality of curtains maybe supported by the device and that the entire areas of both faces of the cur` tains will be exposed to the air. `When the' device is used as ya curtain stretcher and drier, as shown in Figure 1, articles of wearing apparel may be hung on the outer end.

portions of the bracket arms. However,

when it is desired to use the device as a clothes rack only, the lower bracket 7 on each standard 1 preferably is raised on that standard nearly to the upper bracket and then is arranged substantially at right angles to the upper bracket and is secured against accidental displacement from the desired position on the associated standard by means of the pins 18, which are inserted in suitable openings 5.

Obviously, inyinvention is susceptible oit embodiment in forms other than that illustrated in the accompanying drawing and l therefore consider as my own all such modilications and adaptations ot' the form of theI device herein described as fairly tall within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim A device ot the character described coinprising a pair ot standards, each having a vertical series of spaced transverse openings, a bracket having a socket in the underside of the middle portion thereof iitting on the kupper end of a standard, there being one ot said brackets for each standard, each of said brackets also comprising a pair ot oppositely extending lateral arms, a second bracket for each standard, said second named bracket having a vertical opening in the middle portion thereof for the reception of said stand-- ard and being slidable on said standard, said second named bracket also including a pair ot koppositely extending lateral arms, the arins of all oi said bracket-s having similar transverse openings for the reception of end portions of cross rods, and pins removably -neageable with transverse openings oi the associated standard to prevent vertical Inovement ci the second named bracket on that standard.

EDITH M. CRAFT. 

